By Paige Cornwell, Seattle Times
Teachers in the Marysville School District have voted to walk out of class Friday, becoming the 18th school district in northwest Washington to protest what they say is inadequate funding for the state’s public schools.
“Our members feel strongly that the time is now to get something done and, the lack of progress in Olympia is unacceptable,” Marysville Education Association President Randy Davis said.
The one-day walkout by the 670 members of the Marysville Education Association on Friday is an action solely against the Washington Legislature, and not against the local district or community, Davis said in a news release.
Local teachers unions in 17 other school districts have voted for a walkout or strike to call for better health-care benefits for school staff, more money to pay for voter-approved class-size reductions and higher cost-of-living raises than the state House or Senate has proposed, according to the Washington Education Association.
“We expect the Legislature to fully fund smaller class sizes in every grade level as required by voter-approved I-1351, and we need the state to fund competitive, professional salaries and benefits so we can continue attracting and keeping qualified, caring teachers for our kids,” Davis said.
The teachers unions in the following school districts have staged or plan to stage a walkout or strike:
- Lakewood (April 22)
- Stanwood-Camano (April 22)
- Arlington (April 22)
- Bellingham (April 24)
- Blaine (April 24)
- Conway (April 24)
- Ferndale (April 24)
- Mount Vernon (April 24)
- Anacortes (April 24)
- Sedro Woolley (April 29)
- Bainbridge Island (April 30)
- Burlington-Edison (April 30)
- Marysville (May 1)
- Oak Harbor (May 1)
- Lake Washington (May 6)
- South Whidbey (May 6)
- Evergreen/Clark County (May 13)
- Sequim (TBD)